The Washington, DC, Metropolitan Police Department, including Chief Pamela Smith, along with Mayor Muriel Bowser, did not know of President Donald Trump’s move to take over the department before his announcement Monday, three sources familiar told CNN.
Over the past three days, Bowser has mostly complied with Trump’s directives to expand the number of federal agents on DC’s streets. In an interview on Sunday, the Democratic mayor went so far as to emphasize her “shared priorities” with Trump, stating that she is “interested in being in neighbourhoods and fighting crime.”
The MPD and the mayor’s office have not responded to requests for comment regarding Trump’s takeover.
One source told CNN that leadership has been unaware of the specifics of Trump’s order and how it would alter MPD’s approaches to combating crime.
Given that Trump and Bowser have recently been on good terms and that the White House and the mayor’s office have historically maintained nearly constant communication, one source in the DC government told CNN that they were taken aback by the news on Monday.
Between the lines: Trump stated that he will mobilize 800 members of the D.C. National Guard and that he might also deploy the military “if needed.”
Between the lines: Trump stated that he will mobilize 800 members of the D.C. National Guard and that he might also deploy the military “if needed.”
According to the Home Rule Act, which permits such a step in response to “special conditions of an emergency nature” for a maximum of 30 days, he announced he is taking over the D.C. Police.
Theoretically, Congress may vote to end the emergency, but with Republicans controlling both houses, this is unlikely to happen.
“It’s a very extreme exercise of these powers, raising all kinds of legal questions,” stated Raskin, the leading member of the House Judiciary Committee.